ARTS, BRIEFLY; This One's On Trent Reznor

By JEFF LEEDS; Compiled by LAWRENCE VAN GELDER

Published: May 6, 2008

In an unusual nod to the popularity of free music online, the rock act Nine Inch Nails is offering its new studio album, ''The Slip,'' through its Web site, nin.com, for nothing. In a post on the site, the band's leader, Trent Reznor, said, ''Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years -- this one's on me.'' The album, which became available for download early Monday morning, seems to be the first time a superstar act has distributed an entire album free, without an option for fans to pay. Two months ago the band issued the instrumental album ''Ghosts I-IV,'' allowing fans to obtain a portion of it free or the entire recording for $5. Before that the British rock act Radiohead offered its 2007 album, ''In Rainbows,'' online with a tip-jar-style setup in which buyers could name their price, including nothing. ''The Slip'' could serve as a test of how the easy availability of free music online affects later CD sales and other money-making opportunities. ''The Slip'' will not be sold on CD or vinyl until at least July. But the free digital version could stoke interest for Nine Inch Nails' recently announced concert tour. Not everyone seems convinced that such giveaways will be more than a promotional gimmick. But Jim Guerinot, the talent manager who represents Nine Inch Nails -- which is now without a record contract and controls its own recordings -- said: ''Free exists whether you want to acknowledge it or not. Let's acknowledge that, use it and do something with it.''